ISSN (Online) 2321 2004

ISSN (Print) 2321 5526

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 1, Issue 8, November 2013

Automatic Rationing System Using Embedded

System Technology
S.Sukhumar1, K.Gopinathan2, S.Kalpanadevi3, P.Naveenkumar4, N.Suthanthira Vanitha5
Student, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, India 1
Student, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, India 2
Associate professor, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engg., Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, India3
Assistant professor, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engg., Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, India4
Professor & Head, Department of Electrical & Electronics Engg., Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, India5
Abstract: In this research paper, the proposed concept is to replace the manual work in public distribution system. The
ration distribution system is automated by using PLC, which is similar to the ATM. This automated ration system
replaces the conventional ration card system by smart card. In addition, the finger print detector is placed in the
machine in order to check the correct user access. If the user is correct user, the next process takes place and the input
can be given in the touch screen. As soon as the input is given, the products are obtained from the automated ration
shop and the amount is taken from the bank account of the particular person. The embedded controller is preprogrammed in such a way to perform the similar operations. In this automated ration shop government have control
over all transaction that occurs in ration shop. In order to involve government in the process, the proposed ration shop
system is connected to the government database via GSM modules, which further sends the up-to-date information to
the government and the consumer. For the efficient operation and economic constraints of the system, the power supply
unit is fully made alternate to solar power.
Keywords: PLC module, PIC microcontroller, GSM and solar panel.
I. INTRODUCTION
Indias Public Distribution System (PDS) with a
network of 4.78 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPS) is perhaps
the largest retail system in the world. Major problems
due to this system are the inefficiency in the targeting of
beneficiaries and the resulting leakage of subsidies. The
TPDS system today supports over 40 crore Indians below
the poverty line with monthly supply of subsidized food
grains. The Government of India is having a UID (Unique
Identification) number system called AADHAR number,
which contains all general information like age, count of
family, finger print of the family, address, contact
numbers, bank account information etc. for every resident
in the country. Using the AADHAR number and the
contact details, the Government can send a message
(SMS) to the individuals, containing information regarding
quality and quantity of products allotted to him/her in a
respective ration shop. People who are accessing the ration
shop for subsidies in the cost of products would allot a
smart card that is electronic ration card.
The automatic rationing system, installed at the ration
shop which contains three interfaces namely touch screen,
billing printer and GSM. All these interfaces are interfaced
to the advanced microcontroller. Embedded PIC
Microcontroller is interfaced to the PLC and further to the
central database of the government. The person would
have to swipe the card on the system placed at ration shop
counter. After that for security authentication and to
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prevent card misuse, the system would ask for the

AADHAR number and the finger print detector detect the
correct consumer. Once authenticated, automatic rationing
system would get updated information regarding the
existing subsidies for the current user in the touch screen.
The inputs are given by the consumer and select the
products by the consumer itself in the touch screen. From
the touch screen inputs are given to the microcontroller
unit, which are given to the PLC module and the products
are obtained from the automated ration shop. Further to
prevent irregularities in distribution of ration, government
can supply various products (like rice, wheat, kerosene,
sugar etc.) to rationing shops in the form of sack stored in
the container. Central database would be updated
immediately after every transaction made by the users.
II LITERATURE SURVEY
A.N. Madur, Sham Nayse [1] Automation in
Rationing System using Arm 7, this system is based on
radio frequency identification of customer. Here each
customer is provided with RFID cards. In this system, by
using RFID and by entering the password we can access.
First user is authenticated, then system shows the balance
of person. User have to enter the amount of Kg he want to
withdraw. System checks his account. If the user will have
sufficient balance to withdraw the current amount, system

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ISSN (Online) 2321 2004

ISSN (Print) 2321 5526
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 1, Issue 8, November 2013

will open the valve. Through valve grain will come and it
will get weighted by weight sensor. Once the count
reached the entered amount controller automatically shut
down the valve and update the account of the customer.
The updated account information is send to the customers
mobile using GSM module. In this system the data base of
customers can be made with their account details,
password etc.
Rajesh C. Pingle, P. B. Borole [2] Automatic
Rationing for Public Distribution System (PDS) using
RFID and GSM Module to Prevent Irregularities, In this
automated system conventional ration card is replaced by
smartcard in which all the details about users are provided
including their AADHAR (social security) number which
is used for user authentication. This prompted us to
interface smart card reader (RFID Based) to the
microcontroller (AT89C51) and PC via RS232 to develop
such a system. Using such a system, Government would
have all required control/monitoring over the transactions
at ration shop. To involve government in the process we
proposed connecting the system at ration shop to a central
database (provided by government.) via GSM module
(SIM900D) and RS232. Hence it is possible to prevent the
corruption and irregularities at ration shop. This would
bring the transparency in public distribution system and
there will be a direct communication between people and
Government through this.
S.Valarmathy,R.Ramani [3] Automatic Ration
Material Distributions Based on GSM and RFID
Technology, proposed to use RFID and GSM technology
based Ration cards by showing the RFID tag into the
RFID reader. Then the controller checks the customer
codes and details of amounts in the card. After
verification, these systems show the amount details. The
customer need to entered the required materials by using
the keyboard, after receiving the materials controller send
the information to government office and customer
through GSM technology. In this system microcontroller
is used for executing the process.
K.Balakarthik ,[4] Cloud-Based Ration Card
System using RFID and GSM Technology, Presents an
efficient method for the user to buy the products in the
ration shop by just flashing the card at the RFID reader at
the ration store. The user authentication is done by sending
a random password text to the user mobile which has to be
entered in a keypad. The purchase is validated by the
employee only after the details are entered in a windows
application which stores the users personal and purchase
information. Here the user can check their purchase details
in a dedicated website.
Dhanojmohan,Rathikarani,Gopukumar
[5],
Automation in ration shop using PLC,proposed a
methodology for ration shop automation using embedded
PLC. Further the updation to the government database
about the stock available and the customer details were not
carried out.
A. Social Relevance and Usefulness of the Proposed
System
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To overcome the problems mentioned above in the

previous research, the novel PLC based Automation of
ration shop plays a vital role[1].
i) Illegal Usage
ii) Over crowd
iii) Processing speed is slow
iv) Selection of households Targeting
v) Bogus cards
vi) Hijacking of ration cards
vii) Materials theft
viii) Mixing of products
ix) Poor quality of supplies
x) More than the prescribed rates are charged
xi) Cannot able to get the accurate quantity of supplies
xii) Cannot able to get the material at any time
B. Benefits of the Proposed System
i) Corruption in the Government and market sector can be
prevented if this system becomes automated.
ii) Increased adulteration in consumables can be
prevented.
iii) Cost effective approach.
iv) Time saving approach.
v) This system helps to maintain the data properly.
III. PROPOSED SYSTEM HARDWARE

BATTER
Y
INVERTER

POWER
SUPPLY

FINGER
PRINT
DETECTO
R

SMART
CARD
INSERTE
R

PIC
MICROCONTROLLER

INTERFAC
E FOR GSM

GS
M

RICE
STORAGE

SOLAR PANEL

SYSTEM
ON &
OFF
PLC
MODULE

WEIGHT
DETECTOR

SOLEN
OID
VALUE
OBJECT
SENSOR

INTERFA
CE FOR
PRINTER

INTERFACE FOR
TOUCH SCREEN

DATABASE MANAGED
BY GOVT

BILLING
PRINTER

TOUCH
SCREEN

CONSUME
R PHONE

Fig. 1. Block Diagram of Automated Ration Shop

The fig. 1 depicts the overall functioning of the

module and proposed system that incorporates PLC based
automated ration shop. In conventional system, Indian
government has implemented a UID (Unique
Identification) number system called AADHAR number,
which contains all general information like age, count of

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ISSN (Online) 2321 2004

ISSN (Print) 2321 5526
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 1, Issue 8, November 2013

family, finger print of the family, address, contact

numbers, bank account information etc. for every resident
in the country. Using the AADHAR number and contact
details, the government can send a message (SMS) to the
individuals, containing information regarding quantity of
products allotted to a public in a respective ration shop.
Once when the consumer insert the smart card in the smart
card inserter, the smart card can be accessed by entering
the password ,which was given to the all consumers
separately. But there is a chance of miss using the
smartcard password. To overcome the miss usage, the
proposed system includes the finger print detector which
detects the finger print of the consumer and their family
members. If the password entered and finger print is
matched, then the smart card gets accessed and
immediately profile of the particular person is displayed in
the touch screen.

IV. PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

From the touch screen consumer can select the

products needed for him and the process takes place in
order to check the account of consumer whether the
amount is there or not for the given inputs .If there is
enough amount
in the consumers account then
automatically the products are collected in the ration shop.
V. RESULT AND ANALYSIS
If not then the process does not takes place. PIC
microcontroller is programmed in such a way to do the
The following ladder diagram shows the entire
above mentioned process automatically without any
process of automated ration shop distribution of products
manual interference. Embedded microcontroller gives the
and output of the PLC.
input to the PLC. Consider the consumer has provision for
giving four inputs namely rice, sugar, wheat and oil
respectively.
The inputs given by the consumer are collected in the
automated machine in one by one basis. The first input
given by the consumer is rice means, the green light
indicates that the rice is coming out from the machine first.
Object sensor is placed in the collector side in order to
avoid the wastage of products. If the bucket/ object is
sensed in the collector side by the object sensor then only
the process takes place by pressing the start button. If not
alarm circuit turns on ,which alarm us to keep bag. Then
by pressing the start button solenoid valve opens and the
product is collected in the bag.
As soon as the first input is collected then it
check it for the second input and the same process takes
place for next input and so on.. After all the inputs given
in the touch screen by a consumer are collected, with the
help of GSM module. The up-to-date information is send
Fig. 3 Ladder Diagram for the Proposed System
to the government and the receipt will come from the bill
counter automatically. In order to make the automated
VI. CONCLUSION
system more advantage, power supply is obtained from the
This proposed method can provide a safe, secure
solar panel.
and efficient way of public distribution system. By using
this technic PLC based automated ration shop; it solves the
problem of manual process in public distribution system.
This new technology gives solution and this research work
will make a great change in public distribution system and
provides benefit to the government by sending the current
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ISSN (Online) 2321 2004

ISSN (Print) 2321 5526
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL ENGINEERING
Vol. 1, Issue 8, November 2013

stock information to the government database via GSM also ERAMBOZ awards. He is highly appreciated by the
and reduce the manpower.
Head of the Department.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to thank the management of Knowledge
Institute of technology and Head of the department for
providing the facilities to carry out this work.
REFERENCES
[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]
[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]

A.N.Madur, Sham Nayse, Automation in Rationing System Using

Arm 7, International journal of innovative research in electrical,
electronics, instrumentation and control engineering ,vol.1, Issue 4,
Jul 2013.
Rajesh C. Pingle and P. B. Borole,Automatic Rationing for Public
Distribution System (PDS) using RFID and GSM Module to
Prevent Irregularities, HCTL Open International Journal of
Technology Innovations and Research, vol 2,pp.102-111,Mar 2013.
S.Valarmathy,R.Ramani,Automatic Ration Material distributions
Based on GSM and RFID Technology, International Journal of
Intelligent Systems and Applications, vol 5,pp.47-54, Oct 2013.
K.Balakarthik,Closed-Based Ration Card System using RFID and
GSM Technology, vol.2, Issue 4, Apr 2013.
Dhanojmohan,Rathikarani,Gopukumar,Automation in ration shop
using PLC, International Journal of Modern Engineering
Research, vol.3,Issue 5,Sep-oct 2013, pp 2291-2977,ISSN:2249-6645.
Neha Pardeshi, Trupti Desale, Prajakta Bhagwat, Ruchali Ahire,
Web-Enabled Ration Distribution and Controlling ISSN: 22779477, March 2012.
T.R.Sreenivas,A case of supply chain management of Public
Distribution System operations in the Chhattisgarh state of India, 3
7 September 2012.
Rajnish Mahajan; Bar-coded Ration card and Public Distribution
System, 13th July 2012.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Food and Public Distribution, Annual Plan 2011-12.
Umang Sharma, Vaibhav Kumar, Vikalp Chauhan,Electronic
Ratio Distribution system,.
Palak Parikh, Distribution System Automation.

BIOGRAPHIES

S. Kalpanadevi is currently working

as an Associate Professor in the
Department
of
Electrical
and
Electronics
Engineering
at
Knowledge Institute of Technology,
Salem. She received his UG degree in
the discipline of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering from Kongu Engineering college
under Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore and got PG
degree in Process Control and Instrumentation discipline
from Annamalai University, Chidambaram. She has
presented papers in National level conferences. She is a
life member of ISTE. She has guided number of project
for students. She has organized about 5 guest lectures in
various fields. Her research interests lie in the field of
Control System, Medical Instrumentation and Embedded
System.
P. Naveen Kumar is currently working
as an Asistant Professor in the
Department of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering at Knowledge institute of
Technology, Salem. He received his UG
Degree in discipline of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering from Maharaja
Prithvi Engineering College under Anna University,
Coimbatore and got PG degree in Embedded System
Technologies from KSR college of Engineering under
Anna University, Chennai. He has presented papers in
international conferences. He has guided number of
projects for students. His research interest in the fields of
Control systems, Embedded and Real Time system.

S. Sukhumar is pursuing, Bachelor of

Engineering in the discipline of
Dr.N.Suthanthira
Vanitha
is
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
currently
orking
as
a
Professor
and
at Knowledge Institute of Technology,
Head of the EEE Department at
Salem,
under Anna University,
Knowledge Institute of Technology,
Chennai, India. He has presented
Salem. She received the B.E.
number of technical papers in
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
symposium and National Conferences.
from K.S.R. college of Tech,
He is doing minor research works on various fields like
Tiruchengode in 2000 from Madras
Robotics, PLC & SCADA and Embedded Systems. He got
University,
M.E.,
Applied
Electronics in Mohamed Sathak
State second prize for his project, best student in coEngineering
College
in
2002 from Madurai Kamaraj
curricular activities and ERAMBOZ awards. He is highly
University
and
Ph.D.,
in
Biomedical Instrumentation &
appreciated by the Head of the Department.
Embedded Systems in 2009 from Anna University,
K. Gopinathan is pursuing, Bachelor Chennai. She is life member of ISTE & CSI. Her research
of Engineering in the discipline of interests lie in the area of Robotics, DSP, MEMS and
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Biomedical, Embedded Systems, Power Electronics and
at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Renewable Energy systems, etc. She has published and
Salem, Anna University, Chennai, presented number of technical papers in National and
India. He has presented number of International Journals and Conferences. She has guided
technical papers in symposium and number of Projects for UG and PG students, currently
National Conferences. He is doing minor research works guiding 12 Ph.D., scholars.
on various fields like Microcontroller Power Electronics
and Robotics. He got State second prize for his project,
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